Furnace for melting and alloying metals in vacuo.



W. S. SIMPSON.

FURNACE FOR MELTING AND ALLOYING'METALS IN VAOUO APPLICATION FILED MAR.26,1913.

1, 1 1 8,820. Patented Nov. 24. 1914.

2 SH EIITSBHEBT 1 W. S. SIMPSON.

FURNACE FOR MELTING AND ALLOYING METALS IN VACUO.

APPLICATION TILED NARZG, 1913.

Patented NOV. 24. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM SPLIR-S SIMFSUN. OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

FURNACE FOR MELTING AND ALLOYING METALS IN VACUO. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Application filed March 26, 1918. Serial No. 756,977.

. Alloying Metals in Voouo, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

The ob]ect of this lnventlon is to provide a suitable apparatus or furnace for melting, refining and alloying metals which have a lower melting point than iron, and particularly suchhmetals as aluminium and its alloys which it is desirable to heat (and super-heat) in vacuo, to prevent oxidation and to facilitate the diffusion of the alloying metals.

In carrying out the purposes of my invention I construct of steel or cast lron, a

melting chamber lined with fire brick and provided at the bottom with a series of atmospheric gas burners for supplying the necessary heat, also containing a steel or cast iron melting pot or crucible provided with a cast iron cover so fitted and furnished with means of sealing that it may be held in position by atmospheric pressure while the vacuum chamber thus formed is in operation, the whole apparatus being mounted on trunnions to enable the molten contents of the crucible to be conveniently discharged. The cover of the crucible contains one or more eye pieces inset with glass to enable the operator to view the contents thereof, and is also provided with a receptacle composed of refractory material or of iron, operated by a sliding rod through the top of the cover, whereby various alloyingmctals 0r purifying materials may be added to the molten charge in the crucible, without breaking vacuum.

The apparatus is provided with suitable connections for a vacuum pump and with flexible tubes or couplings for the gas supply.

My invention will be clearly understood from the annexed drawings in which has connected to it a valved pipe 8 leading to the suction pump. The rod 7', with the s irrupshaped receptacle or carrier 9', is providedto enable any material contained in said receptacle to be introduced into the molten contents of the crucible at any desired time and without impairing the vacuum. The joint between the crucible and cover is made by means of the tongue in on the edge of said crucible and the asbestos packed groove or recess is in said cover. This is found to make a very etlicient joint, the cover being held in position by no other means than the external air pressure. An ordinary atmospheric gas burner composed of straight tubes Z shown in plan, in Fig. 2,

is used as the heating medium, this burner being attached directly to the bottom of the 1. A furnace for meltin refining and alloying metals consisting of an open-ended casing having a plurality-of exits for flue gas distributed around its top; a support for said casing; a crucible positioned in said casing and resting on the said top thereof; a cover on said crucible having a suction pipe connected thereto; means for introducing alloying metals into the molten charge in the receptacle during the maintenance of the vacuum; and a gas burner attached directly to the bottom of said casing.

2. A furnace for meltin refining and alloying metals consisting 0 an open-ended casing having a plurality of exits for flue gas distributed around its top; a support 5501' said casing g a cruciblPqsitione in said my hsmci in presence of two subscribing Witcas1ng.zm01 restmg on the smd 60p thereof; messes.

'a cover 011' said crucible having a suction M w a p1pe ccnmttecLthereto; vand a gas, bmm az VHLLIAM S w QH attached directly to "the bottom of sad WVitnessesz casing. H. D; JAMESON, 7

E11 testimony whereof I have hrunto set" VJLALTT. 

